Event Details:
Date: Tuesday 19th August 2025
Time: 12PM
Tickets: $95

RSVP: Amelia Armistead - [email protected]

In November 1854 the three masted, fully rigged ship of British Oak and East India Teak Dunbar was launched as a troopship (Crimea War) and transport ship to the colonies. The Dunbar on its first trip to Australia was wrecked trying to enter Sydney harbour on 20 August 1857. The wreck of the Dunbar ranks as one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters.  
 
In June 2011, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) successfully conducted their largest firing exercise of the Adelaide Class Frigates retro fitted Standard Missile (SM) 2 system at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Hawaii. This missile firing week was the culmination of an extensive test program conducted over a five year period that collected and provided evidence that, not only was this a more powerful weapon (both in range and lethality) that could be safely and effectively employed on RAN warships, but also that the close range Anti Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) system recently installed on the upgraded Frigates (HMAS Sydney, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Newcastle and HMAS Melbourne) actually worked. 
 
The project to retro fit the missile system consisted of three major hardware modifications to each of the Adelaide Class Frigates, replacement of the existing analogue gyro, and several significant wiring modifications. In addition, three critical software programs, provided by three different companies in two separate countries required integration. With all ships in commission, all alterations had to be conducted as part of scheduled refit packages to enable the RAN to meet operational commitments and tasking at the time. 

Guest Speaker 
Commander Steven Hamilton RAN (Retd) 

Commander Steven Hamilton joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1973 and served for 30 years. Steven specialised as a Direction (Combat System and Air Warfare) Officer and was one of the last Australian officers to attend the 12 month Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) training at HMS Dryad (Portsmouth UK). His first posting as a PWO was to commission HMAS Darwin, a Guided Missile Frigate being built in Seattle USA. After several sea postings, including Executive of HMAS Sydney (deploying to the Red Sea for six months to enforce UN sanctions on Iraq), Sea Training Group, Steven was appointed to command HMAS Newcastle (an Australian built FFG) in 1998. Operational in both Australian waters and overseas, HMAS Newcastle played a crucial role in the 1998/99 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race rescue operation. Post command Steven was posted on two occasions to RAN Test & Evaluation Agency. Over a four year period Steven a team of four in New Zealand to plan and conduct a full evaluation of the several Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) warships. Steven since retiring is now enjoying volunteer work for both the Naval Historical Society Australia, and the UNSW Medical School where he is a simulated patient for year 1 & 2 medical students.